208 Transactions of the Amebic an Institute. 



May 12ih, 186S. 

 Mr, Nathan C. Ely in the chair, Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



Black Knot. 



Mr. Edward Taintor, Hartford, ConrtLand County, ^N". Y., wrote, 

 substantiating his theory regarding the cause of black knot in fruit 

 trees. He aUuded to Mr. Fuller's remarks, and he requested him to 

 prove his authorities that insects are not the cause of this disease. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — When I was a boy the musquetos bit me 

 severely, and my hands were covered with warts, but that does not 

 prove that musquetos were the cause of the warts. 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — Our scientific men declare that the black knot 

 is a disease. I know very well that insects lay their eggs in these 

 knots, yet I don't believe they produce them. 



Dr. I. P. Trimble. — I have studied this subject for years, and have 

 found both insects and eggs in the knots. I agree with the German 

 writers, who say that the knots are produced by fungus. 



Mr. Daniel H. Knapp thought they are caused by tight bark. By 

 frequently making incisions or cuts at the proper time and place, he 

 had no trouble with the black knot. 



Mr. Wm. S. CaJ'penter. — A few 3'ears ago trees v^'ere not troubled. I 

 find that thrifty trees scarcely suffer at all, and I am inclined to think 

 the fungus is the most probable cause of this disease. 



Mr. J. B. Lyman. — E. Dickson, Amherst, Mass., prevents this black 



knot by putting salt around the trees just before the last snow goes 



« 

 away. 



Mr. II. B, Smith, "Westfield, Mass.— I have no trouble with this 



disease except on trees in poor condition. 



Dr. Jarvis recomm,ended top pruning and good cultivation. 



Removing Sttoips. 



Mr. D. L. Parish, Portville, N. Y. — Mr. C. Lanark wants to know 

 how to get rid of stumps after they are pulled. In this county we 

 plow and scrape a hole twenty-iive feet long by fifteen feet wide, and 

 about four feet deep, with the sides sloping, so that the stumps wiU 

 roll togetier as they burn. They should season a few months before 

 they are fired. 



Concrete IIousEg. 



Mr. Thomas Thompson, Scipio, Ohio. — I built one of these houses 

 eight or nine years ago, and it proved a complete success. The chief 



